A SECONDARY ANALYSIS OF SELF-RATED HEALTH AND HEALTH SERVICE USE OF FEMALE, BISEXUAL UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS ON MARITIME CAMPUSES

Abstract

Given the limited research on the health of bisexual women, findings suggest that this population is experiencing disproportionate rates of health disparities and have less protective factors. Guided by the Prince Edward Island Conceptual Model for Nursing, a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data collected during the Maritime Undergraduate Student Sexual Health Services Survey 2012 (N = 10, 232) examined the health and health service use of bisexual female undergraduate students (n = 357). Statistical findings revealed that among bisexual female students, social support significantly increased (OR 1.04 [1.01, 1.06]) and depression risk significantly decreased (OR .303, [.109, .845]) the odds of reporting good health (p < .05), while forced sex (OR 2.23, [1.10, 4.53]) significantly increased odds of health service use (p < .05). It is hopeful that these findings will support the development of inclusive health promotion strategies that target bisexual women’s psychosocial health needs on Maritime university campuses.